Chapter 8 #2
I’d spanked her. I’d fucked her. Now, several of our kind would do the same. I had no right to be possessive, but in my mind, she would always belong to me.
“I honestly hope that you do.” He lifted a single eyebrow as he looked in my direction.
When I hesitated, he continued. “I cannot imagine how difficult these last few weeks have been for you. I watched your transformation, unable to do anything to help you. I felt your pain. I anguished from your cries. You are now one of us and I am proud to have you by my side and as my brother.” He gripped my shoulder.
“Thank you for freeing us and for accepting temporary leadership. You will be rewarded in many ways.”
“Steen, the other humans will be more prepared for a fight to the death if necessary. That is the way of humankind.”
“Sadly, you are right. They will pillage our food and destroy our compounds, enslave every viable male, turning them into merely functioning creatures, obeying their rules. And we will have little recourse to stop them, except for crude weapons we’ve been forced to accept as penance for landing on this planet.
If our ships were operational, everything would be different. ”
There was such tremendous anger within Steen, but he couldn’t have acquired all the information from overhearing Dr. Fields. The man wasn’t that stupid. I was wary of his rage and the various stories I’d heard.
“Now that their experiments have been proven accurate, the humans will arrive in force.” My words were laced with tremendous sadness. I clenched then flexed my fingers, staring at them.
“And we will be ready. I will not allow our guard to fall again. I assure you. This is our life now, not theirs,” Steen commented with a commanding tone. “The humans have no idea what they’ve done.”
“I mean no disrespect, but you don’t know them like I do. They have no other choice. They will die within two years without finding a new planet.”
A new home.
He patted my arm. “You are right. Humans are our enemies and will always be. They can promise everything but deliver nothing in return, except for deceit. Everything will be repaired as it should. Now, go to the female and prepare her for tonight. Discuss with her what you know and try and obtain as much information. There is no other choice.”
I had the distinct feeling Steen was far more important than I’d been told.
Steen’s capture had been planned, the abduction indeed catching the entire compound off guard.
At least this is what I’d been told after both his and Klar’s arrival, the story rich in detail.
They’d both been mistreated during their capture and I’d witnessed their continued abuse on several occasions, much like what both David and I had been forced to endure.
After their DNA had been harvested, the experiments begun, only then had Steen opened up, providing vivid details.
Then why was there a huge question remaining in the back of my mind, leaving me unconvinced as to the accuracy of the details?
“I am considering allowing David to mate with her,” Steen said in a casual fashion. He didn’t bother turning around, but he’d stopped on the outskirts of the garden.
“I’m not certain he is strong enough.”
“He will be. And it’s important.”
I opened my mouth to riddle him with additional questions but had no idea what to ask.
He seemed to be consumed with his own issues.
I’d garnered respect for the man during our incarceration, conversations we’d had after the lights had gone out.
There was no reason for me to question him, his ethics or his decisions, but every ounce of my being screamed that I should proceed with caution.
I understand that concept well. If I’d listened to my conscience all those years ago, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.
A bitter laugh surfaced and even if memories were hard to come by, my guilt remained, gutting me.
I was exhausted, my entire body aching. I held out my arm, flexing my fingers. I was continuing to change, to morph. How much more pain would I be forced to endure?
After thirty minutes, I headed back to the locked room, not at all surprised to find her awake, her arms surrounding her knees and her back nestled against the stone wall. She didn’t bother looking at me when I walked in. “What is this place? Who are these people?”
“The truth? This is the only place that now matters.” The snarl I emitted was deep and dangerous.
“Why?”
“I already told you. You belong to us. This is our city, our world. Now yours.”
“Our?” she laughed, lifting her gaze in my direction. “Who are you, Erik? You don’t belong here or with them. You’re very human, or at least you were.”
“They call this Galerius after their own planet.”
Her eyes opened wide. “They colonized this planet just like Earth is trying to do. That makes perfect sense.”
Nodding, I kept my distance, giving her space. “They have no way off the planet and no one is looking for them.”
“How sad but also interesting. There are very few women that I’ve seen, which means an all-male-dominated race.” Laughing, she dropped her head into her arms, grumbling under her breath.
“They’ve made do with harsh circumstances and a treacherous environment. Yes, the males are in control, very much like Earth.”
Cassia slid to the edge of the bed. “The similarities are quite frankly terrifying.”
“We may be monsters to you, Cassia, but I assure you, the Galerians are far more intelligent. You came here with the others to see a show. Well, you got what you came for and much more.”
“Don’t say that to me. You’re not a beast, neither are the others, and certainly not like what Dr. Fields tried to force me to believe.
I wish I could tell you I knew more about what’s going on, but I don’t.
I’m just as much a victim as you are. I might be able to gather some answers if you allow me to go back to the facility. ”
A slow rumble pooled in the pit of my stomach. “Steen will never allow that.”
“Why? Doesn’t he want answers? There are more of you, creations designed by a fucking madman of a scientist on Earth.
Do you honestly think he will stop there?
If I know him, this is merely the beginning of some grand plan.
And those scientists who were murdered in cold blood, they traveled with me, all specialists in their fields.
They didn’t buy the slick bullshit delivered in savvy fashion by the government.
I know about the others. They exist and they are here in this place.
I might be the only human left alive on this planet. ”
“A few survived, yes.” Her words were heartfelt and I had to agree with her.
“A few? Oh, no. There were two, maybe three dozen at least. I might have been out of it a good portion of the time when I was dragged to this place, but I saw them. So many of them.” Her lower lip trembled.
“They were so confused, hurt and… They were pitiful. They need protection from arriving shuttles.”
“Yes, anyone of our kind who survived was brought here. I’m not privy to every decision Steen makes, but if they exist, will be well taken care of.” I hadn’t seen them since our arrival, nor had I asked any questions.
But I would.
“Why did this clan kill the people from the shuttle? Why?” She was still so rebellious, as angry as I was.
“Do you not understand what has been done to these people? When the humans first arrived, the clan was curious, even trying to strike up a friendship.”
“Is that what Steen told you?”
“That is what I witnessed. I arrived on the first shuttle after the facility had been built.”
“So you do remember more than you’re letting on,” she snarked.
I was taken aback by her vehemence. “I remember bits and pieces, but my arrival, yes. The snowstorm was almost as treacherous, true animals hiding in the forests, starving for food. We were treated like criminals, nothing different than on Earth. I remember seeing several members of the clan. They came to talk to Kevin and the others. Soon after, we heard about abductions, the clans targeted. That began the war.”
She closed her eyes. “There’s nothing left to believe in. Not Earth. Not humanity. Nothing.”
“There is a decent life here.” For the first time, I almost believed.
An overwhelming need for her became all-consuming. Yanking her to her feet, I wrapped my hand around her neck, dragging her against my chest. Her breasts were crushed, her breathing coming in short pants. “I belong nowhere, Cassia. I’m no one who matters any longer.”
“You matter to them, these creatures,” she managed, her hand wrapping around my shirt. “Tell me about them.”
“They are simple people who want exactly everything you and I wanted on Earth. Love. Happiness. Security.”
She shook her head. “Jesus. We needed a new planet, so we simply decided to take one that was occupied.”
“Yes. This is their world. Galerius doesn’t belong to the humans.”
“And you know what? Humans have no other choice.” She pushed hard against me. “I can’t take this, Erik. I need to right this wrong.”
I growled and cupped her face, digging my fingers into her skin. “The sooner you accept the fact that this is where you will be from now on, the better it will be for you. We will fight to protect our own, against all odds, but I will fight with them.”
“Why were you in prison? I think you do remember.”
I could feel my mouth twist in disgust and frustration. A few images crowded the front of my mind, horrific reminders that whatever I’d done had been to protect someone. “I don’t know.”
“I wish you could trust me, Erik. Remembering may not matter, but whatever occurred on Earth changed you.”
“We are all changed from experiences in our lives, Cassia, both good and bad.”
Her sultry mouth pursed then twisted, her eyes glistening. “I saw your face the moment I arrived in my mind. The moment seemed real. Why does it feel like I know you?”